How to report Uber earnings while collecting unemployment?

I don't believe UI needs to know about my Uber income, since I plan on reducing it to zero come next April (never take the standard deduction - you can always itemize higher when deducting business expenses). So does anyone have experience with this?

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The way that the UI office might look at it a little differently than you do. Just consider a few facts.

They ask you if you worked last week. If you uber'ed- that's work. Its untrue if you answer "no" and avoid the followup questions.

They ask you if you are available for work last week- if you're ubering are you really available to go out for a job as a test subject at a medical lab (that was the job the Unemployment office sent me out on- last time I was on UC in 1984. -true story) If you answer "yes", they can say that is untrue.

Third, the rules for counting earned income may be different for Unemployment than they do for taxes, they certainly did when I worked UI here in PA.

Lastly, the unemployment office probably gets computer reports from Uber, reporting who is starting. The child support court certainly does, this will be something to explain, perhaps.

Do what you want, but just realize that your arguments are going to be lined up with UI Regulations in California by a bureaucrat. It might turn out fine, but there is definitely a risk here.

I was laid off in July, and I have been driving Uber for extra cash while also looking for a new job and collecting severance.

My last severance paycheck will be coming in a couple weeks, and then I will be eligible for unemployment (if, God forbid, I haven't landed full-time work by then).

I fully intend to comply by all legal rules while filing for unemployment, so I understand that I have to report all part-time and self-employment income each week that I file. I also understand that this would likely reduce my unemployment benefit.

But here's the question: If I am legally self-employed with Uber while filing for unemployment, do I report my GROSS income from Uber, or my NET income after deducting expenses? And would I deduct actual expenses, or the much larger standard mileage discount?

(My state's unemployment web site does an extremely poor job of addressing this, and the phone number is voice-prompt hell.)

I'm hoping for answers from somebody with real-world experience about this. I understand that each state might have different rules, but any information would be welcome.

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HEY i know its late but this helped me 1000x more understanding the report earning process you DO report net pay i just saw the EDD UI you tube channel this can help anyone else in a similar situation who drives uber or lyft

I was laid off in July, and I have been driving Uber for extra cash while also looking for a new job and collecting severance.

My last severance paycheck will be coming in a couple weeks, and then I will be eligible for unemployment (if, God forbid, I haven't landed full-time work by then).

I fully intend to comply by all legal rules while filing for unemployment, so I understand that I have to report all part-time and self-employment income each week that I file. I also understand that this would likely reduce my unemployment benefit.

But here's the question: If I am legally self-employed with Uber while filing for unemployment, do I report my GROSS income from Uber, or my NET income after deducting expenses? And would I deduct actual expenses, or the much larger standard mileage discount?

(My state's unemployment web site does an extremely poor job of addressing this, and the phone number is voice-prompt hell.)

I'm hoping for answers from somebody with real-world experience about this. I understand that each state might have different rules, but any information would be welcome.

The biggest issue is that the income being reported for you, is greatly in excess of your actual profit... which means all these government agencies will assume that you are making more money than you are, because they just don't know any better.

if unemployment sees $1000 a week of uber revenue as $1000 a week in income your in trouble...

I've known people who were un rightfully denied things like foods tamps over their taxi Revenue being counted as income.

i really don't want to comment on it but...
But anything involving a government agency (except the IRS) is a mess, and will be a fight.

Child support in particular is a nasty one,

I knew a cab driver who got a court order for child support/allamony on him.

It was 50% of his revenue... (a court order for the cab company to turn over 50% of his meter to the court, to give to her)

Well his profit Margin was only 60% so... you see the problem?

$250 in revenue
$100 in expenses {paid to the cab company} (that the judge ignored and refused to factor in)
$125 to his exwife (50% Court ordered to be deducted off his credit card payouts)
$25 to him (10%)

His Ex-wife told the judge that he didn't make as much as the number the judge threw out, the judges response was that he was obviously was hiding money from her...

2 weeks later, (of bumming money from his ex wife, i kid you not)
An agreement was reached to fax shift receipts (the cab company prints up a nice receipt showing expenses and revenue) to his Ex-wife and pay X % of his taxable profit. (in cash when he went to pick up his children for the weekend (actually monday-wednesday)

Anything where your writing off a HUGE % of your income as expenses will cause a problem with these institutions... the IRS will take your word for it, most other's fail to understand what's going on.

Also you have situations like orlando where you are losing money on paper?